Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has explained why he intervened in the police invasion of the residence of a former Interim Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr Joi Nunieh to save her from abduction.
Wike, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communucation, Paulinus Nsirim, condemned the use of police officers to abduct citizens and called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate the saga.
He said it was expedient to probe why over 50 armed policemen stormed the Port Harcourt residence of Nunieh at 4am on Thursday.
He insisted he was on ground to frustrate the attempted abduction and berated the self-styled armed policemen, who claimed to be members of the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.
The Governor said under a civilised society, the proper thing to do was to invite her to answer to any allegation.
He said: “But to storm her residence at such an unholy hour suggests some sinister motive that should not be tolerated.
“What has happened today is a disgrace. Who knows what would have happened to her if they had gained access to her main room? I went there personally to see things for myself and rescued her.
“She is supposed to testify before the House of Representatives Committee and here we are having armed men wanting to abduct her.
“We came out to protect our daughter and we will do so to every Rivers citizen. That is the oath of office I swore to. It doesn’t matter the political affiliation. We will not allow anybody to destroy Rivers state.
“It is so unfortunate and I cry for this country concerning the ways things are going. They didn’t have a warrant of arrest, but would storm somebody’s house, in fact, the State Commissioner of Police is not aware.
”So, tell me how something will happen in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? They said it’s the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.
“So, we have such a unit taking over the responsibility of crime fighting in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? I can also assume too that the Inspector General of Police is not aware. He should investigate it”.
The Governor also called on his colleagues in Niger Delta States to ensure that their citizens did not have a hand in the planned abduction of the former Managing Director of NDDC.
He said: “If there is any allegation of crime against her, I will not back her but you can’t kill her for no established crime. I don’t know who’s responsible but whoever is behind it should not take Rivers state for granted because we will fight back.
“From what has happened now, I want to say that Rivers State is fully out. Anybody who is responsible for this attempted abduction of our daughter, should know that enough is enough.
“They can’t treat her as a common criminal. I am sure that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of this.
“All the Niger Delta States should find out if any of their citizens have a hand in the unfortunate incident and call on such people to leave our daughter alone. She is no longer the Managing Director of NDDC.
“The way things are going now, it seems people want to destroy Rivers State and it is unacceptable.
“Using the police to carry out abduction of citizens should not be encouraged. A similar incident had happened in this state before when they wanted to use the same style to abduct a serving Judge”.
Nunieh, who thanked Wike for coming to her rescue, said the armed policemen came about 4am, broke into her premises but were stopped by the security door leading to her main room.
She said: “Those who told me the Commissioner of Police was downstairs lied because it was his deputy that actually came.
“I opened the door and they wanted to grab me. I pushed back the door and locked it and went upstairs.
“So, my Governor came, asked them for the warrant of arrest and why they did not invite me to the police station instead of attempting to abduct a woman like a criminal.
“The Governor took me away in his car and I am taking refuge in Government House. I want to thank His Excellency for keeping to his word that nothing should happen to a daughter of Rivers State.
“I was supposed to be going to Abuja today to make my submission before the Committee of the House of Representatives. I am sure the motive was to stop me”.
